The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-14
ANTIQUITY OF LAMPS.
From the Torches of the Ancients to ths
Argand Burners of To-day.

You remember that DlogeneS used
one in his eccentric efforts to discover
something he did not believe in. The
lanterns of the Greeks and Romans con-
tanned an oil-lamp. Its sides were
made of thin layers of horn, waxed
parchment, linen or bladder. Glass
lanterns were used in England as early
as 705. They were expensive, how
ever, and thousand years later the tin
lantern was chiefly in use among the
poor people. The Chinese excel in the
manufacture of lanterns. They have
used them for ages. Some of their
mandarins have them built at a cost of
thousands of dollars each. The word
built is not out of place here, for these
lanterns are twenty to thirty feet high
and contain hundreds of candles. Their
sides are often of rich colored silk. On
January Is of each year they celebrate
the feast of the lanterns" Why? o,
it's way they have-they are heathens,
you know.
No; candles are not the most primitive
form of light In Homer time torches
were used, even in the palaces of the
wealthy. Rush lights, early in use,
were rushes dipped in grease, pitch OF
wax. Lamp comes from Greek word
-lampas. The candles of Scripture
are supposed to have been lamps in
which olive oil was burned. The earliest
lamps were shallow vessels of terra
Gotta, either round or oblong in shape.
There was small opening in the top in
which the oil was poured; at one side was
handle, and opposite, nozzle through
which the wick protruded. This form
of lamp is often represented in pictures.
Many of them were ornamented with
representations of war scenes and
chariot races. Bronze lamps and golden
lamps have been discovered of such
beauty as to entitle them to rank among
the choicest specimens of ancient arts
In the Acropolis at Athens, according
to historian, was golden lamp, large
enough so that when filled it would
burn night and day for a year. Above
it was bronze palm tree to carry off
its fumes and act as reflector. That
was the kind of lamp to have.
Speaking of primitive lamps, some
are still tc be found in the country dis
tricts. while in West Virginia re-
GENTLY" said a travelling man. 81 saw
one that was primitive enough. A
saucer was filled with grease, and over
the edge of it hung lighted wick. 1t
splutted some, but made enough light
to render the darkness visible, and its
heat was sufficient to light the pipes of
the family. 1t was more used for that
purpose than any other, it appeared to
me, though it was the only light in the
house. There are many people in the
mountain regions whose only lights are
tallow-dips.
A form of the ancient Greek lamp is
still in use among the Canadian French
In the remote districts of Scotland the
cruisie, similar lamp, is sometimes
found. Olive oil, ground nut oil, pop
Ply oil and other vegetable oils are all
used in various districts of the world.
In the tropical regions cocoanut oil is
used in lamps. The trade of candle
making, usually combined with that of
soap-boiling, was once an important
one. Franklin worked at it until he
ran away. The chandler made wicks,
nodded, and dipped his candles until
driven out of his business by the general
adoption of whale oil as an illuminant
early in the present century.
Improved lamps were introduced
about century ago. A Frenchman
named Argand, in 1884, invented q
burner with two concentric tubes, the
inner one open for current to pass
through, and the outer one containing
the wick. He had metal chimney to
make it draw and carry off the smoke.
Somebody soon found out that a glass
chimney was better for that purpose.
Argand's lamp, variously modified and
improved, is the parent of all the best
modern lamps.
Various substitutes for whale oil were
tried during the present century, but
none came into general use until coal
oil was introduced. 1t was first made
from camel coal, and that is the way
it got its name. The general develop
ment of the petroleum region in Penn
sylvania, which began in 1S59-60, soon
destroyed the manufacture of coal oil,
just as it was getting to be profitable
industry. Many improvements in lamps
followed this discovery. But petroleum
is not new thing-neither is natural
gas. Oil was found in a spring on
Zacyuthus or Zant, one of the Ionian
islands, two thousand years ago. and
was burned in lamps in Sicily at an
early age. 1t was known to the Indians
and to the Western pioneers of America,
but somebody had to discover how to
get it in quantities and use it before
the knowledge became of value to the
world. Petroleum exists in Pennsyl-
vania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia,
Canada, India and in the Caucasian
Mountains Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Aspiring young administrative
you read the tragedy l left with your"
Theatrical manager-"Part of il"
40, thank you for your kindness.
What do you think of itp" 81 consider